Town should adopt policy for cell towers
by Michelle Minnoch

Dana Lockhardt and Margaret Johnston made a presentation to council Wednesday night regarding the proposed Bell cell tower. The presentation was to ask for council's support in residents efforts in the relocation of the proposed tower.

"When the proposal was posted in January, residents contacted the Town of Innisfil," said Lockhardt. "We contacted our MP and Industry Canada."

"Cell providers must consult with the municipality," she said. "The municipality plays an important, critical role in the location of the tower in a municipality."

Johnson suggested council adopt a proactive plan for long and tall structures in the town.

She said although residents within 120 metre of the proposed site area were to be notified via letter, she said because it is a rural area, about six people received notification of the tower.

"In a rural area, 120 metres is not applicable. We didn't see the letter until after the fact."

Another bone of contention was the signage for the proposed tower. Lockhardt said it was a small sign, tacked up ion a pole in a wrecking yard, with one sign above and another below it.

"It didn't fell like the intention of what the signage should be there for."

Johnson said she is "not against a cell tower in the least", but felt the way the process went about, including the notification, is something the town should take note of.

"Please consider this situation and develop a protocol for large and tall structures," she said. "You don't want future residents to go through what we went through."

Lockhardt said the Township of Essa is looking into a protocol for this type of situation.

Councilor Paul Wardlaw said he had heard about another potential area for the tower site.

Lockhardt said she is in contact will Bell and had not received any information about another possible tower site.

Deputy Mayor Gord Wauchope asked if Bell was looking at other possible site sin town. Rob McAuley, Director of Planning and Development said there is "nothing publically known at this time."